Dolphins don't belong in captivity

Source.

As I am sure you already know, wild dolphins are extremely intelligent as well as being incredibly playful, social and caring.  They belong in the vast oceans where they can live and play freely.  Sadly, there are 25 wild dolphins facing a life of captivity due to Resorts World Sentosa's new attraction.  

At the moment the dolphins are locked in tiny pens and captivity is utter torture for them as their unique sonar bounces off the walls right back at them, it is like being trapped in an endless house of mirrors.  Most dolphins die at a young age from illness induced by stress, some dolphins actually commit suicide.  

Avaaz says that half the dolphins will die in the first 2 years if Resorts World Sentosa suceeds in keeping them captive.  As well as this, it will legitimise the widely banned practice of capturing wild dolphins. 

The cruel wild dolphin industry has been banned from the UK to Costa Rica, so we cannot allow Resorts World to get away with this.  Two years ago the same organisation had to abandon their plans for a whale shark exhibit due to a huge outcry threatening their reputation - we need to do this again in order to set the dolphins free. 

Resorts World claim that their “interactive spa program” using the dolphins will be able to help heal sick and disabled children, there is no scientific evidence to support this technique.  They also claim their programs aid conservation, even though by capturing the dolphins in the first place they were actually hunting as they only keep the “display-worthy” dolphins and the dolphins left are unfortunately killed. 

Click here to sign the petition from Avaaz, once 750,000 signatures have been raised they will forward this to Resorts World and the media. 

Please forward this action to as many friends as possible, share on Facebook and Twitter too!

Thank you.

Help the Australian Government with a big decision

A while back I posted about the Australian government being on the verge of a big decision regarding the creation of the largest network of marine protected areas in the world.  If you have not yet taken action on this please click here to be taken to a readily prepared e-mail to The Hon. Tony Burke, Minister For Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population And Communities.  It will take less than two minutes for you to fill in a few details and hit send, this action could help save the lives of whales, dolphins and other marine life.  The WDCS is reporting that over 5,000 supporters have protested already but the more the merrier!

Do you have a few spare seconds?

 

I've received an alert from the WDCS informing me that in a few weeks the Australian Government will be making a big decision to create the largest network of marine protected areas in the world, this is critical habitat for over 50% of the worlds whales and dolphins.  

Australia has one of the largest marine territories in the world accommodating a large variety of fish, sharks, whales and seals who live in the continent’s submerged mountain ranges, deep sea canyons and reefs. These waters provide refuge for the blue, humpback, and southern right whales, as well as bottlenose, spotted and striped dolphins.  At the moment they are unprotected and the oil and fishing industries are attempting to undermine moves to increase protection.

The Government's decision will set the standard of protection that will then be applied to the rest of Australia’s waters for the next 10 to 20 years.

Australia is asking for International help to ensure the decision goes the right way.  Please take a few seconds to click here and send a readily prepared e-mail to The Hon Tony Burke, MP and Minister for the Environment.

Thank you!

Something to be ashamed about.

Me swimming with the dolphin a few years ago. Yes, it an experience but at the dolphins expense :-(

Back when I was 12 years old and in secondary school I really began to become aware of issues affecting animals. One of the first things I campaigned against was animals in captivity and I focused especially on sea mammals such as whales and dolphins. A few years back I had the opportunity to swim with a dolphin in an Aquapark in Turkey, blinded by excitement and desperation to swim with this gorgeous creature I succumbed and actually paid for the privilege. I have to say that I am thoroughly ashamed of myself for doing this as I was contributing to the whole animals used for entertainment industry.

I can't even remember why we ended up in the Aquapark in the first place, I know that we went at my insistence all because I love animals and wanted to see seals, porpoises and dolphins but I really wish that I had remembered everything I knew and didn't go anywhere near the place where wild animals, who belong in the expansive oceans, are kept in confinement for our selfish enjoyment. I think about the dolphins and other animals in that Aquapark all the time and rather than simply feeling guilty for what I did, I want to make something positive happen. I want to learn from my mistakes and do something to help stop animals being used to make money from tourists.

I will never visit an aquapark or dolphinarium again (unless to protest in some form)

I have found quite a few stories about some dolphins in particular that are situated in a dolphinarium in Oludeniz near to the Aquapark I visited, these dolphins named Misha and Tom are being kept in an area of water the size of a swimming pool and were allegedly transported there in the back of a fruit and veg van without any type of support. The dolphinarium is not able to open to the public as the owner Aleksandr Kuznetsov does not have a licence.

The good news is that tourists and local people are speaking out against the dolphinarium and major tour operators are boycotting it.

Born Free sums up things perfectly and makes me hang my head in shame “As long as people are prepared to pay to see captive dolphins then opportunistic facilities like this will continue to spring up. But at what cost to the dolphins?”

Born Free has contacted the owner and asked him to consider their proposal of entering the dolphins into a rehabilitation programme.

I will keep you updated and will let you know of more ways to help.

Helen Worth and Amanda Holden are some of the celebrity campaigners that have spoken out about this cause.

Please join the Facebook Group and you will find some letters to send to relevant authorities and also a petition to sign.

Born Free

Animals in the News.

Clever dolphin uses iPad to communicate.



"Worlds Ugliest Dog" has died. (I think she was adorable)



How do animals cross the road?